LSU's running game is almost a carbon copy of last season:
lots of backs, a steamrolling offensive line and 50 or so running plays per
game. All it lacks is an option game and it's getting stronger with Spencer Ware
getting back into the action. Alfred Blue, Kenny Hilliard and Michael Ford are
hardly breaking a sweat and we haven't seen freshman Jeremy Hill, whom the
coaches have raved about.

The biggest enemy may be boredom with the efficiency the
Tigers have shown. The running game only makes it easier for quarterback Zach
Mettenberger to find his receivers, if they can concentrate better this week
and not drop passes. Dropped passes mean clock stoppage which prolongs the
agony.

Why not go for the fastest victory ever? The Tigers could win this game
if they ran the ball every play, putting the Vandals out of their misery,
sending fans back to their tailgating before 10 p.m. and allowing sports
writers to easily limbo under their deadlines for a change.

Stay sharp on defense

The Tigers were improved on defense last week against a
better opponent. As long as the rush defense puts up numbers like 26 yards
allowed on 24 carries, everything else will fall into place, even with a Vandals
team that doesn't care much for the run. In fact, they'll pass on the run.

They
like to throw, 69 times in two games. On their statistics sheet, individual
passing and receiving stats are listed ahead of the rushing stats. Idaho has run the ball
48 times in two games and had 6 yards rushing last week. LSU ran 52 times in its last game. The pass rush and the defensive backs coverage skills will both get workouts.

If
any area of LSU's defense was suspect, it was the secondary which has many new,
young faces because of the attrition. The Tigers must also be careful not to
confuse quarterback Dominique Blackman with an offensive lineman. He's 6-feet-5
and weighs 254 pounds. The referees might accidentally flag him for being an
ineligible receiver.

No Mr. Potato Head jokes

Idaho
is well known for potatoes but certainly not for football. No need to stir up
this 42.5 point underdog opponent with unnecessary trash talking, which actually has all but
disappeared with Tyrann Mathieu out of uniform and in the stands. Wonder if
he'll wear red again this week, and which intramural flag football team will he sign with?

Now, Idaho's
nickname is something else entirely. Vandals were no potato heads. They were an
East Germanic tribe in the fifth century that were credited with sacking Rome - not so much
quarterbacks - and inventing the word "vandalism." Hopefully they will leave
their spray paint cans when they come to Tiger Stadium. But that might be the
only way they can put any numbers on the scoreboard.